The Real Deal New York

Town veteran Matthew Van Damm to take indefinite leave

Matthew Van Damm, one of the original recruits to residential brokerage Town Residential, has taken an indefinite leave of absence from the company for “personal reasons,” he told The Real Deal today.

Van Damm, who serves as the company’s director of operations, has no definitive plans for when he will return to work.

“Due to personal circumstances … [Matthew] has requested a leave of absence to focus on himself,” Town CEO Andrew Heiberger said in a statement to The Real Deal.

Both he and his wife, Melissa, work at the company — she is a managing director and the head of Town’s office at 88 Greenwich Street — and are currently having marital difficulties.

“I am greatly saddened by what has transpired between him and Melissa because they are both dear friends,” Heiberger said.

Melissa declined to comment on Matthew’s reasons for departing the company but confirmed that she would remain there.

Matthew said he would not comment on rumors or anything pertaining to Melissa. He said his leave commenced August 15.

Matthew was one of Heiberger’s first recruits, along with Citi Habitats manager Itzaskun “Itzy” Garay and Brown Harris Stevens broker Wendy Maitland, when he established Town in 2010. He was formerly a senior project manager at Citi Habitats Marketing Group, where he headed up leasing at projects like the Ashley for Extell Development and the Beatrice for JD Carlisle.

At Town, Matthew oversaw operations as well as leasing at high-profile projects. He led the team at 15 William when Town took over leasing at the Financial District tower in April, as The Real Deal reported.